Broncos Having Success in Summer Wooden Bat Leagues

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Several members of the Western Michigan baseball team are suiting up in summer wooden bat leagues across the country. A total of 13 different Broncos are playing on six different teams.

Three Broncos in particular have been red hot to start off the summer. Senior left-handed pitcher Steve Laudicina has a 4-0 record with a 0.90 ERA in four appearances and has struck out 15 batters in 20 innings pitched. Sophomore right-handed reliever Gabe Berman is touting a 0.75 ERA and has registered four saves in 10 appearances. He has 18 strikeouts to his credit in just 12 innings of work.

At the plate, junior shortstop Andrew Sohn ranks 10th in the Northwoods League in terms of batting average, hitting .348 through the first 21 games. He also has two home runs, nine doubles, 10 RBIs and nine stolen bases to his credit. Sohn was a First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection for the Broncos this past collegiate season.

The NCAA sanctions these wood bat leagues, some of which are sponsored in part by a donation from Major League Baseball. Several leagues exist throughout the country and teams are comprised of the top college players from North America and beyond. These summer leagues represent the highest level of pre-professional amateur baseball. Players are not paid so as to maintain their NCAA eligibility.